November 10, 2016
IST Austria welcomes additional funds for Austrian science and research
Strengthening the quality competition in Austria • FWF as a location factor • Quantum research and research investment fund are further impulses
In the meeting of the Council of Ministers last Tuesday, the Austrian federal government decided on the allocation of additional funds intended to strengthen Austria as a science and research location. The significant strengthening of the Austrian Science Fund FWF as the central organization for competitive research funding is of particular importance in this context.
An increase of 281 million Euro for the Austrian Science Fund
Specifically, the federal government decided to gradually increase the budget of the Austrian Science Fund from currently 184 million € per year to 290 million € per year until 2021, taken from new federal funds in the amount of 281 million € from the Federal Ministry of Finance. These resources have to be retrieved in the coming financial framework. The Austrian Science Fund FWF is the most important national source of funding for new project ideas by researchers at IST Austria.
“The FWF is the most important instrument for the competitive funding of basic research in Austria. Of course IST Austria welcomes the fact that the Austrian federal government will provide additional funds for it in the coming years and hopes that the necessary overheads for funded research projects can thereby also be ensured,” says IST Austria President Thomas Henzinger in an initial reaction.
Further impulses are the strengthening of quantum research and Research Investment Fund
The prioritization of quantum research is a clear signal by policymakers to further expand the growing area of “Research made in Austria”. Thanks to its new appointments in this area, IST Austria expects to further promote existing synergies and strengthen the resulting attraction for international talents.
As an initiator in this area, it is particularly encouraging for IST Austria that a research investment fund shall be implemented within the presented investment package. This initiative aims at mobilizing private seed- or early stage-venture capital through public investment, thereby improving capital resources of spin-offs and start-ups. This can significantly support the innovation ecosystem emerging at IST Austria.
With the measures adopted at the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, the Austrian federal government sends a clear signal that the extension of investments in the future sustainability of the country is a strong priority.
